Senior Management Team : Children’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Briefing

This briefing will cover: • What is safeguarding and child protection • Policy and legislation • Key agencies • Roles and responsibilities • Local multi-agency policy and process

The Safeguarding Continuum

Safeguarding is Everybody’s Business Promoting the Welfare of every child Keeping every child Safe from Harm Protecting every child from Abuse

Framework of core legislation and procedures

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1991 Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board Children Act 1989 & 2004 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013

Children & Young People

Human Rights Act 1998 Safer Recruitment, Employment and Working Practices South West Child Protection Procedures

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2013

   All individuals have a duty to work together with other agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children.

Sharing information and maintaining inter-disciplinary relationships is essential to effective and safe practice. The requirements are bound by legal statute.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as:  protecting children from maltreatment;   preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes (Working Together 2013)

Early help… early intervention

  Early help and intervention promotes resilience in children and families; preventing or reducing the risk of problems occurring or getting worse.

Early help and intervention may be provided through: universal services targeted support during the early years targeted support at specific life turning points or transitions statutory services.

Child abuse

 “Child Abuse consists of anything which individuals, institutions or processes do, or fail to do, which directly or indirectly harms children or damages their prospects of safe and healthy development into adulthood.”

(National Commission of Enquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse 1989)

 “Harm” means ill-treatment or the impairment of health or development including impairment suffered from seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another.

Children in need

Children who are defined as being ‘in need’, under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, are those whose vulnerability is such:   that they are unlikely to reach or maintain a satisfactory level of health or development, or their health and development will be significantly impaired, without the provision of services.

Children in need of protection

Children who are defined as being “in need of protection” are those who have been assessed under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm to development, and require planned statutory intervention to ensure long-term safety.

Categories of child abuse

    Neglect Physical Sexual Emotional Abuse

Multi- Agency Thresholds of Need Children at risk of offending Children with highly complex needs Children in care Plymouth Assessment Framework and Thresholds Protocol

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The Multi-Agency Framework for Assessment (The Triangle)

Key Themes/Local Levels of Need

1. Vulnerability of 0-5 age group and 0-1 2. Recognise needs of young people : CSE 3. ‘Toxic Trio’ of Domestic Abuse/Substance Misuse/Mental Health Professional/Respectful Curiosity supported by reflective/analytical practice 6. Partnership working 7. Plymouth statistics of need/service provision

Plymouth City Council as Corporate Parents

    For children/young people on Care Orders and in the care of the Local Authority Plymouth City Council are Corporate Parents The Corporate Parenting Group As Corporate Parents the Council asks itself ‘Would this be good enough for my child?’ Scrutinise and monitor outcomes for children and young people in care and young people leaving care

Safer working practices

Guidance for safer working practices for adults working with children

Transitions between children and adult services

   2008 Multi Agency Transition Strategic Group : ‘A natural journey into adult life: Plymouth’s multi agency transition pathway for young people with additional needs’ Since 2008 range of activities to improve transition planning Current transition protocol being revised through the Preparing for Adulthood Task Group

Transitions between children and adult services

        Young people with an Education, Health and Care plan or Statement of Special Educational Needs Care Leavers Young people identified by children’s services as in need of a supported transition to adult services (social care or health) Education, employment and training Social care support Physical health services Mental health services Housing support services

What to do if you are worried about a child

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Recognise

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Respond

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Advice & Assessment Team Concerns about adults working with children also include referral to and involvement of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

Key contacts

     Advice and Assessment (Children’s Social Care) 01752 308600 / Out of hours 01752 346984 Police – Child Abuse Investigation Unit 01752 284522 Local Authority Designated Officer 01752 307144 CAF team 01752 307160 Early Years Safeguarding and Welfare Officer 07795 121445 / 01752 308997.

Further information on child protection procedures

www.swcpp.org.uk

 This website is updated quarterly and should be routinely accessed by all those working with children.

 Staff should be familiar with the relevant policies and procedures on this website to ensure there is no delay in referral.